Artificial Intelligence is reshaping industries worldwide, but successful AI adoption depends on more than technology alone. It requires people with the skills, practical experience, and judgement to apply AI responsibly to real challenges. Building these capabilities requires collaboration between education, industry, and technology experts.

That principle lies at the heart of Orange Ainga Data, an initiative led by IngeData in partnership with Orange Madagascar through the Orange Digital Center (ODC). The initiative demonstrates how collaboration can help build a sustainable AI ecosystem by connecting academic learning with practical industry experience and preparing the next generation of AI professionals in Madagascar.

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Why Building AI Talent Requires More Than Technical Knowledge ?

Developing AI expertise requires more than understanding algorithms, programming languages, or data analysis techniques. AI professionals must also understand how technology can address operational needs, support decision-making, and deliver responsible solutions.

Bridging the gap between academic learning and industry application is essential. While students can develop strong theoretical foundations, exposure to practical challenges helps them understand how AI solutions are designed, evaluated, and applied in professional environments.

By combining academic knowledge, expert mentorship, and real business challenges, future AI professionals can develop not only technical capabilities, but also problem-solving skills, business understanding, and the confidence required to contribute effectively to AI projects.

Orange Ainga Data was built around this principle by bringing together students, universities, technology experts, and industry partners to strengthen practical AI capabilities and support the development of a sustainable AI ecosystem.

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Turning AI Education into Practical Experience

The first Orange Ainga Data event in Madagascar brought together more than 200 participants from nine higher education institutions, alongside researchers, developers, AI professionals, mentors, and industry experts.

Organised by IngeData in partnership with Orange Madagascar through the Orange Digital Center (ODC), the programme combined expert sessions, mentorship, and practical learning to expose participants to the realities of AI development.

Alongside the Ideathon, participants attended expert sessions delivered by Prof. Benjamin Renoust (Osaka University and Median Technologies), Dr. Herimampita Rarivomanantsoa, Lecturer in Bioethics and Director at CER-CBEA, and Henitsoa Rasoanandrianina, Head of AI at IngeData. The sessions explored complementary perspectives on AI, including healthcare innovation, trustworthy AI, ethics, and responsible AI adoption, providing participants with a broader understanding of the opportunities and considerations involved in developing and implementing AI solutions.

As Henitsoa Rasoanandrianina noted during her session, “AI is not the future anymore. It is the present.” She emphasised that Malagasy talents already have the potential to embrace AI and that continued exposure to practical business challenges and applied learning will be essential to strengthening local AI capabilities.

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Applying AI to Real Business Challenges

At the heart of the Orange Ainga Data, multidisciplinary student teams worked on four real operational challenges submitted by industry partners, addressing genuine business problems that required practical AI approaches.

The challenges reflected different areas where AI can create value:

• Step Up Digital: Exploring how data and AI could support the creation of Madagascar’s first self-learning communication agency.
• Answers Madagascar: Developing approaches to automate expense report processing.
• ARONA: Using AI to personalise newsletters and customer communications.
• IngeData: Exploring how AI could automate the collection and digitisation of Malagasy National Identity Cards.

Throughout the Ideathon, participants worked alongside mentors from Orange Digital Center Madagascar, IngeData, partner organisations, IT and Computer Science schools and academia. They moved from understanding business needs to developing solution concepts and presenting their ideas through project pitches. 

It was reflective of professional AI projects where technical expertise was combined with soft business skills and problem solving.

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Building Long-Term AI Capability

Beyond the Ideathon itself, the event marked the launch of an AI training programme jointly developed by IngeData and Orange Digital Center.

Built around real business use cases and delivered by experts from IngeData, universities and partners, the programme will provide a first cohort of 25 selected students with structured, hands-on learning aligned with professional standards, bridging academic knowledge with the experience required to contribute to professional AI projects.

The initiative reflects a shared commitment to strengthening Madagascar’s AI capabilities by investing in local talent. During the Ideathon, Aminata Ndiaye, CEO of Orange Madagascar, highlighted the ability of Malagasy youth to transform real business needs into digital solutions, demonstrating their ideas, ambition, and innovative potential.

This long-term approach reflects a broader belief that successful AI adoption depends not only on technology, but also on developing people with the right skills, experience, and responsible mindset.

As Mathieu Debersée, Chief Operating Officer at IngeData, emphasises:

"This partnership with Orange Madagascar illustrates our conviction that excellence in Data and Artificial Intelligence is built first and foremost through training and practice. We are proud to support this new generation of Malagasy talents and are determined to open up real recruitment opportunities."

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Looking Ahead: Building Sustainable AI Ecosystems

Orange Ainga Data demonstrates that building sustainable AI ecosystems requires more than technological innovation. It requires collaboration between education and industry, practical learning opportunities, responsible AI practices and continued investment in people.

For IngeData, advancing Artificial Intelligence means sharing expertise, supporting practical learning and collaborating with partners to develop the capabilities needed for responsible AI adoption.

By connecting talent, industry experience and trusted AI practices, initiatives such as Orange Ainga Data help transform AI potential into meaningful and sustainable impact.

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Image credits: ActuStudio